Blockade puts boro cultivation in peril
The farmers of the country, especially of the northern region, are facing serious problems in cultivating robi crops because of a shortfall in supplies of diesel and fertilisers. Supplies have been hit as the continuous blockade programme enforced by the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance has affected transportation of diesel and fertilisers. The cultivators of Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat and Panchagarh complained that dealers have created an artificial crisis and are selling fertilisers and diesel at prices way above normal by taking advantage of the blockade and hartal programmes.
With no option left, the helpless farmers are being forced to procure fertilisers and diesel at high prices to save the robi crops, especially wheat and potato.
Claiming they have not received any complaint about fertilisers and diesel being sold at high prices, the local administration said that they have ample stocks of fertilisers for the production of robi crops, and special arrangements have been made to transport fertilisers to the cultivators.
Administration officials also promised action against persons who sell fertilisers, particularly urea, above the rate of Tk. 800 fixed by the government and diesel at inflated prices, if specific complaints are lodged.
The farmers, however, are worried about the expected yield of robi crops if they fail to procure fertilisers and diesel in due time or have to buy the agricultural inputs at
higher prices, which would add to the cost of production.
Many farmers complained that a litre of diesel, which costs Tk. 68 to Tk. 70 in normal times, is now being sold at Tk. 10 to Tk. 1,100 per litre, while fertilisers are being sold at Tk. 1,000 to Tk. 1,100 per sack against the stipulated price of Tk. 800, on the pretext that there has been a shortfall in supplies.
According to a section of farmers of Baliadangi and Ranisankail upazilas in Thakurgaon district, the fertiliser dealers and sub-dealers are citing the blockade and hartal programmes to fleece them.
Abdul Halim, 50, of Palashbari village under Baliadangi upazila, alleged he was forced to buy a bag of urea for Tk. 1,000, which is Tk. 200 higher than the government-stipulated price of Tk. 800, triple super phosphate (TSP) for Tk. 1,600 against the official rate of Tk. 1,200, and muriate of potash (MoP) for Tk. 1,000 against the official rate of Tk. 750, from the dealer.
Another farmer, Maruf Hossain of Ranishankail upazila, pointed out that there was big demand for fertilisers and diesel at this point of time as the robi season is at its peak.
Similarly, Jamal Uddin, a farmer of Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat district, alleged that he had to purchase a kg of urea for Tk. 29 against the government-fixed price of Tk. 14, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) for Tk. 50 against Tk. 25 and TSP for Tk. 42 against Tk. 20, from the local market.
The fertiliser dealers, in turn, have blamed the political unrest and the “local syndicates” for the situation. Admitting that the demand for fertilisers was high in view of robi crop cultivation, Safiqur Rahman, a fertiliser dealer of Patgram upazila, said: “The farmers are not getting ample quantities of fertilizers as agricultural inputs are not reaching the markets due to the blockade and hartal programmes. The local syndicates are taking advantage of this.”
“No dealer can sell urea over the government-fixed rate of Tk. 800. But some dealers, in connivance with the local Awami League leaders, are creating an artificial crisis and secretly selling fertilizers at higher prices,” he added.
However, the local administrations of Baliadangi and Ranishankail claimed they had not received any complaint that fertilisers were being black marketed. “We have sufficient stocks of fertilisers. No farmer has complained of buying fertilisers at higher prices to us,” claimed Ashraful Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Ranisankail.
According to sources in the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) at Lalmonirhat, the demand for diesel each day in the district is 20,000 litres while 66,348 litres are in stock, as per Monday’s figures.
Farmer Lutfar Rahman of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat district, however, lamented that he had to purchase diesel at Tk. 80 a litre against the official price of Tk. 66, but the authorities have turned a blind eye towards the situation. “The farmers cannot cultivate with power tillers because of the acute crisis of diesel. This year I had planned to cultivate wheat on 20 bighas and potatoes on 60 bighas of land. But after preparing about 20 bighas of land, I had to stop ploughing with power tillers on Monday due to the scarcity of diesel,” said Abul Hossain, a farmer of Thakurgaon Sadar.
Acknowledging the situation, Mokhlesur Rahman, manager of a filling station in Thakurgaon, said: “Many farmers are returning empty-handed every day as diesel stocks ran out last Wednesday. We could not ship fuel from Baghabari depot due to repeated blockade programmes.”
Assessing the situation, DAE deputy director at Thakurgaon, Belayet Hossain, said: “November 15 to November 30 is the peak season for wheat cultivation in the region. If the crop is sown after December 5, the yield will be less. However, potatoes can be sown till mid-December.”
-With The Independent input
